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Cuts keep coming
HRC executive director receives word of more funding cuts
By GARY HENRY
Staff Writer
The state budget imbroglio may be abstract numbers to leaders in Springfield, but at the local level the impact is real and painful.
Ken Polky, executive director of the Human Resources Center (HRC), received word earlier this week of more funding cuts. Especially disturbing to Polky is a $46,000 reduction in funds for HRC’s developmentally disabled (DD) program.
“This is traditionally an area that’s spared,” said Polky.
According to Polky, the local DD program serves approximately 80 people on a daily basis with clients transported from communities in both Edgar and Clark Counties to HRC’s facility behind Paris Community Hospital. The clients receive job training and classroom time and some have the opportunity to work in the laundry, parts assembly and janitorial services operated from the facility.
“A lot of paychecks come out of there,” said Polky. “The business part is not in jeopardy, but access to the opportunity to work may be.”
He explained the transportation routes operated in conjunction with the DD will be examined anew in light of the funding cut.
“If we reduce the routes, it will limit who can attend the programs,” he said.
Polky anticipates decisions on how best to cope with the cuts will be made by the end of the week.
“Our only place to make it up is in payroll reductions,” he said.
The first round of cuts resulted in the elimination of two staff positions and Polky said another five jobs could be on the line by the end of the week.
“Seven jobs is a lot of people in a small community,” said Polky. “It’s hard to make up that difference. It’s also hard because they are not losing their jobs because of a performance issue, but we have to set priorities on what to do.”
In addition to eliminating positions, HRC is cutting back the hours of operation as a way to both reduce payroll and to lower utility costs since the lights will be turned off earlier and lessening the demand for air conditioning.
As of Friday, HRC’s office in Marshall will operate Monday through Thursday and be closed on Fridays. The Paris office will start closing at 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Polky regretted the action.
“We have a number of people who like the Friday afternoon hours, and now they will have to make other arrangements,” he said.
He added that area legislators – Sen. Dale Right (R-Mattoon), Rep. Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville) and Rep. Chapin Rose – are aware of the situation.
“It continues to be the fallout between the governor and General Assembly,” said Polky.
Ken Polky, executive director of the Human Resources Center (HRC), received word earlier this week of more funding cuts. Especially disturbing to Polky is a $46,000 reduction in funds for HRC’s developmentally disabled (DD) program.
“This is traditionally an area that’s spared,” said Polky.
According to Polky, the local DD program serves approximately 80 people on a daily basis with clients transported from communities in both Edgar and Clark Counties to HRC’s facility behind Paris Community Hospital. The clients receive job training and classroom time and some have the opportunity to work in the laundry, parts assembly and janitorial services operated from the facility.
“A lot of paychecks come out of there,” said Polky. “The business part is not in jeopardy, but access to the opportunity to work may be.”
He explained the transportation routes operated in conjunction with the DD will be examined anew in light of the funding cut.
“If we reduce the routes, it will limit who can attend the programs,” he said.
Polky anticipates decisions on how best to cope with the cuts will be made by the end of the week.
“Our only place to make it up is in payroll reductions,” he said.
The first round of cuts resulted in the elimination of two staff positions and Polky said another five jobs could be on the line by the end of the week.
“Seven jobs is a lot of people in a small community,” said Polky. “It’s hard to make up that difference. It’s also hard because they are not losing their jobs because of a performance issue, but we have to set priorities on what to do.”
In addition to eliminating positions, HRC is cutting back the hours of operation as a way to both reduce payroll and to lower utility costs since the lights will be turned off earlier and lessening the demand for air conditioning.
As of Friday, HRC’s office in Marshall will operate Monday through Thursday and be closed on Fridays. The Paris office will start closing at 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Polky regretted the action.
“We have a number of people who like the Friday afternoon hours, and now they will have to make other arrangements,” he said.
He added that area legislators – Sen. Dale Right (R-Mattoon), Rep. Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville) and Rep. Chapin Rose – are aware of the situation.
“It continues to be the fallout between the governor and General Assembly,” said Polky.
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